True-Blue Cowboy Christmas Read Online Free PDF Page A

showed off a dimple and way too much charm for anyone’s good. “Here. Look at page twenty-eight.” She thrust the book at Summer, completely ignoring the question.
    Summer had to fight back a return smile. Little Kate was adorable. Formidable, really, and Summer was almost jealous. She couldn’t resist stepping down the stairs and opening the book to page twenty-eight. It was a well-loved book about a fairy kingdom, illustrated in a whimsical, almost old-fashioned way.
    On the designated page was a painting of a fairy queen with Summer’s hair and eye colors, standing next to her palace. Summer smiled. She didn’t look exactly like the fairy queen, but based on the conversation yesterday, she knew where the girl was going.
    â€œSadly, I don’t have wings.”
    â€œBut wouldn’t it be amazing if you did? I used to wish for wings every night.”
    It made Summer a little sad that Kate had already outgrown wishing for something. Even if the girl had new, just as fantastical wishes, she’d already given up on one. “It would be. I think I’d fly to the top of that mountain and watch the sun rise above the clouds.”
    The girl’s face split into a grin so sweet and beautiful that it seemed to light the air around them. “And you could turn the snowcaps into gold and make glitter come out of the sky instead of snow.” Round blue eyes met hers. “Don’t you think that’d be pretty? Gold glitter snow. And then there’d be gold-capped mountains instead. Right? Wouldn’t that be magic?”
    Magic. Oh, it was hard to resist anyone who believed in magic and gold-capped mountains.
    â€œThank you for showing me.” Summer held the book back to the girl. “That seems like a really important book. We should probably get you home before it snows. Do you know the way back to your house?”
    â€œYup.”
    Even so, Summer wouldn’t feel right letting the little girl go on her way alone. “All right, sweetheart. I’m going to walk with you, but first I need you to promise me that…everything is okay there. Because if it’s not, I will help. I promise.”
    Kate cocked her head. “So, if I said it’s not okay…”
    Summer’s heart beat hard in her chest, and she knelt until she was eye level with Kate. Carefully, gently, she touched the girl’s shoulder. “I’d help you get away. I promise .”
    Kate frowned. “Oh, I don’t want to get away .”
    â€œOh.” Summer couldn’t figure this out. Kate really didn’t seem scared or desperate to escape. But then why did she keep showing up?
    â€œI just get bored. Grandpa can’t play the games I want to play, and Daddy has to work, and I want to explore.” She flung her arms wide. “Like in all my books. I want to hike in the woods and build tents and catch fairies and…” She blew out a frustrated breath. “Daddy doesn’t let me do anything .” She mumbled something after that, but Summer didn’t catch it.
    Summer got back to her feet. She really did need to get Kate home.
    â€œLet me grab a wrap.” She reached inside the door and pulled out the first piece of fabric her hand landed on—a crocheted shawl she’d picked up at some thrift store along the way. It wouldn’t do much to ward off the cold, but combined with what she was already wearing, it should do for what was hopefully a short walk there and back.
    She locked the caravan door and studied the little girl looking up at the dark, swirling sky with a gap-toothed grin.
    So no immediate danger, and the girl didn’t want to escape, but that didn’t mean everything was good. Especially if her father wasn’t letting her do anything, and she was somehow sneaking out at the crack of dawn.
    Something wasn’t right. Summer couldn’t get over that feeling, and she’d learned to trust her gut. It